Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The best noodles in town are found in this 250-year-old Edo-era wooden schoolhouse. The house speciality is buke-soba served with takenoko (bamboo shoots)…
Must-see restaurants in Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
On the 2nd floor, with huge windows overlooking the bay, this light-filled, minimalist cafe specialises in castella, a moist, sponge-like cake originally…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The versatile soybean is pounded and skewered to perfection at this former bean-paste mill dating from 1834. The speciality here is dengaku – bamboo…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Atop reclaimed land near where the old centre of Minami-Sanriku stood, this new shopping village opened in 2017 to much fanfare. It represents the…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Rebuilt after a 2017 fire, Nagaya Sakaba is easy to spot due to the massive Namahage demons above the entrance. Sake flows freely once you've negotiated…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This bright, well-regarded shop specialises in inaniwa udon, a thin chewy wheat noodle that originated in Akita Prefecture in the 1600s. Locals seek out…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Constructed haphazardly from caravans, pine beams, fake turf and fairy lights, this pop-up community dining and gathering space is emblematic of…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The best Mongolian barbecue or jingisukan restaurant in Zaō (there are many) is a sharp operation where diners do the grunt work on plates of raw lamb and…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The line of locals out the door at lunchtime is testament to the popularity of this small restaurant, tucked inside a grocery store opposite the Tazawa-ko…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Tucked away on a residential street a few blocks back from the main thoroughfare, this tiny, one-room bakery does a seriously good sourdough, as well as…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Delicious chewy udon and signature soba bowls (hot or cold) are served with simple elegance at this friendly spot. The accompanying tempura and miso are…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Delicious, organic lakeside cafe known for its starring role in a Korean film. Salads, soups and locally made Kohan No Mori beer make for a very…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
A must-visit for seafood lovers. You can eat at a variety of places at this indoor seafood market or grab some mouth-watering sushi and picnic goodies.
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
To the east of the centre, in a residential neighbourhood, this popular ramen joint does a roaring trade in steaming bowls of homemade noodles in a rich,…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Perennial local favourites from land and sea such as kaisen-don (mixed sashimi on rice) and gyūtan (chargrilled cow's tongue) feature here, along with…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
One of the most popular places to try the sublime wappa meshi (steamed fish or vegetables over rice, prepared in a container made from tree bark, which…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This peculiar concept cafe enjoys a lovely riverside locale and is run by a busy young team of foodies who specialise in desserts, fancy teas and organic…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Come here to sample sake and local Yamagata specialities such as imo nabe (potato stew) and dongara (cod), as well as a variety of chargrilled seafood…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Yummy oyako-don (chicken and egg on rice) set meals are the pick of this busy train station restaurant, plus a decent crack at the local hotpot speciality…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Halfway between the train station and the sightseeing district, this samurai house has been partly converted into a stylish cafe. The menu spans the ages,…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
While many believe Sakata is an underrated town, Kumura no Sakaba is definitely a much underrated izakaya. The atmosphere is propelled by buoyant, local…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Opened with the support of the Netherlands Embassy in Tokyo, as a symbol of solidarity with Kamaishi's rebuilding efforts, this brightly coloured cafe…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Lamb barbecued on a hotplate shaped like Genghis Khan's headgear, oden (various goodies stewed in a fish-and-vegetable broth) and soba (buckwheat noodles)…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This simple, super-friendly noodle joint has been in the family for decades. Its secret soy-based shikkoku (jet black) ramen, for which it's famed, is…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This buzzing tourist restaurant has a range of plastic dishes on display for point-and-smile ordering. No award-winning dishes here – mostly don sets …
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Finding a decent tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlet) joint can be a transcendental – or at least rather comforting – Japanese culinary moment. Ichiban is…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This family-oriented cafe serves popular teishoku (set meals) using local produce, including freshly pressed apple juice. There's a lovely kids' area so…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The main community centre in Rikuzen-takata is also a lively cafe with home-cooked food, good coffee and the odd live performance. It's an unofficial…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
There are only so many bowls of ramen one can eat in a day, so best to eat them at the oldest and most well-known ramen joint in town. Find it one block…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
When in Ōtsuchi, stop for a special seafood donburi (rice bowl) at this popular restaurant run by a former fisherman. Lots of local vegetables from the…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Part of an upmarket chain restaurant specialising in tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlets), this branch by the Metropolitan Hotel is highly recommended by…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This friendly local eatery has novel food items, including nattō-filled fish cake and the refreshing alcoholic orange nacchiku drink. The owner is a mini…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Horse meat is a delicacy in Japan, and you can try every part of the animal here, along with various other Japanese culinary delights, washed down with…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Hundred-year-old Tokiwa is the best known of the local Yonezawa-gyū (beef) joints. It's in the north of town, a 30-minute walk from the main train station…
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Ramen shops abound throughout Tsuruoka; this cheap and cheerful place is popular with locals for its flavoursome broth and late-night hours.
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Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
A great spot to pick up fresh sushi on the way through Kamaishi, the Sunfish market also has a few small restaurants on the 1st floor.
